Welcome back to The Rubens and Hotel 41

In anticipation of reopening, we dropped by to see General Manager Malcolm Hendry at The Rubens at the Palace and Hotel 41, to hear what guests can expect this upcoming summer...

How long have you been a General Manager for and what do you love most about the hotel?

I am General Manager for Rubens, 41 and bbar... it's 20 years this May!

I love the buzz of the Rubens' food and beverage outlets, the unique personalised experience 41 offers, the cool atmosphere and menu at bbar and of course, my colleagues in all of the teams that I work with.

You must be very excited about the re-opening of the hotel on the 17^th May. What have you and the team been doing to keep busy while the hotel was temporarily closed?

We have worked on new menus and experiences that we offer as a hotel. Internally, our housekeeping team has been working hard looking after our bedrooms and public areas. The teams have undergone new training and we have been keeping in touch with our guests, travel advisors and customers.

What new and exciting experiences can guests expect this summer?

At The Rubens, we have curated a range of new experiences for guests to enjoy. If you're staying with us over half-term, we have an exclusive children's programme which is full of different activities. In June, we're celebrating Wimbledon at the hotel with a spectacular pop-up bar and in July we have a Lanson Champagne dinner. We also have a range of private experiences with our Chefs, where you can learn how to make sushi or an authentic Indian curry. You can see all our events on our experiences page.

What have you had to change in terms of Covid-19 protocols?

The well-being of our guests and our teams is our primary concern and we have procedures in place for reopening. If you have any concerns, we have a helpful FAQ page on our procedures for both Hotel 41 and The Rubens.

What do you offer for children and dogs?

The Rubens is great for families. We have a whole host of experiences for little ones including milkshake masterclasses and our very own children's cinema. We also have a range of amenities and offer family rooms. More information can be found on our family page. If staying at Hotel 41, you're welcome to join us in The Rubens for activities. 

Four-legged friends are also welcome at both Hotel 41 and The Rubens. We offer pet amenities including welcome gifts and turndown treats, we can also help with any services you may need to arrange, including, dog sitting or maps of local walking routes. 

Will you have live music once again this summer?

Yes we will! We have introduced live music for our upcoming Afternoon Tea sessions on Saturday. We will continue to introduce live music throughout the summer months. 

What did you miss most about your hotel when the doors were closed?

The daily excitement of running the hotels, the enthusiasm and positivity of our team members and of course, our guests!